Jehovah's Witnesses Relax Blood Transfusion Ban After 81 Years; Whole Blood Still Prohibited
Jehovah's Witnesses have relaxed their longstanding restrictions on blood transfusions, ending an 81-year ban in most cases. A BBC News investigation published on November 7 reported that the organisation's Governing Body announced on September 18, 2026, that most medical procedures requiring blood transfusions were now a matter of personal conscience, with the exception of whole blood transfusions, which remain prohibited.
The change came 23 days after the death of Isaac Valdez, a 26-year-old Jehovah's Witness from Waxahachie, Texas. Valdez suffered an epileptic seizure at a local library in August, struck his head and sustained a brain haemorrhage. He carried a "No Blood" card indicating his refusal of blood, and doctors could not proceed with a procedure to drain fluid from his brain. He died on August 26 after life support was withdrawn. His twin brother Jacob told the BBC he believes Isaac could well still be alive if the change had come sooner.
The ban on blood transfusions had been in place since 1945, based on Bible verses telling people not to consume blood. The religion's international spokesperson, Paul Gillies, told the BBC the change was "the application of Bible principles to modern medicine and its methods", saying the organisation should avoid "overreach". The organisation says its basic teaching has not changed and that transfusion of whole blood is still prohibited; the new guidance permits the use of individual blood components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. An earlier adjustment in March 2026 concerned the collection, storage and transfusion of a patient's own blood.
Source: BBC
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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